It only took Marlon Moraes 33 seconds to dispose of rival Jimmie Rivera, making him an easy choice for biggest winner of the night. Who else improved their fortunes in Utica?
UFC Utica suffered from a lull once the televised prelims began as five straight contests went to a decision. They weren’t horrible fights, but those fights need to be barnburners if they want to continue to satiate the appetites of blood thirsty fans. The decisions didn’t do that, but the five finishes in a row to close out the card did more than enough to ensure the fans went home happy… that they went home winners.
It’s hard to find a bigger winner on the evening than Marlon Moraes as the former WSOF champion threw a switch kick that landed square on the temple of Rivera. It may not have put Rivera out cold the way Moraes’ KO of Aljamain Sterling did this past winter, but it wasn’t far behind in terms of its ability to drop the jaw of the viewer. Did anyone else prove to be a winner on the evening? Well, I’m glad you asked….
Winners
Marlon Moraes: Almost a year to the day of Moraes’ UFC debut, it’s safe to say Moraes has erased the memory of his loss to Raphael Assuncao since that time. Not only has he reeled off three straight wins over tough competition, he’s done so in impressive fashion. The list of people who thought Moraes would be where he currently is was extremely short. There isn’t too much to take out of the fight either as everyone knew Moraes was a dangerous fighter and he did nothing to dissuade anyone of those thoughts. Provided the UFC doesn’t try to book TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt for a third contest should Garbrandt even the score in August, Moraes very well could have secure his own title shot.
Walt Harris: Even though Harris turns 35 later this month, it still feels like he hasn’t come close to scratching his ceiling. Given the violent nature in which he finished Daniel Spitz, that’s a scary thought. His hand speed is unusual for a man his size and he has great killer instinct. Now if he can develop a ground game…. Regardless of everything else, it was good for him to snap his two-fight losing streak.
Ben Saunders: Typically, fighters are just looking to land knees in the clinch. Saunders found a way to land his knee directly to the liver of Jake Ellenberger to end the contest early. Given Saunders was finished in his last two contests – looking increasingly vulnerable in the process – he needed not just a win in this contest, but he needed it in just the manner he got it.
Julio Arce: It’s hard to find a more complete performance than what Arce put together. He was very workman-like on the feet, wearing down Daniel Teymur before sending his opponent to the ground with a trip. It was a nice bit of BJJ that secured Arce the submission, his first finish in his short UFC career. As if the UFC didn’t already have plenty of talent at featherweight already….
Sam Alvey: I know many will disagree with Alvey being put here, but he did what he could to finish off the ultra-durable Gian Villante. Hell, Alvey even showed an extra degree of aggression in this contest to ensure it wasn’t the usual bore-fest most of his fights that go the distance tend to be. What really lands Alvey here is his post-fight actions. Sure, his enthusiasm is over the top, but it is memorable. Even better is that he has a callout every time he gets that interview. More fighters should take note of this as Alvey has gotten his wish on multiple occasions. It’s too bad Corey Anderson had received news his uncle had passed at the same time Alvey made the callout, but Alvey can’t be blamed for that.
Sijara Eubanks: There have been fighters who’ve made improbable runs in the TUF house only to stumble upon official entry to the UFC. Uriah Hall and Randa Markos come to mind. Eubanks was able to buck that trend and put together an impressive performance over Lauren Murphy. Is it enough to get Eubanks a title shot once Nicco Montano and Valentina Shevchenko take care of business? Given the lack of other viable options in the division, it very well could be. After all, Eubanks had earned a shot at the belt coming out of TUF.
Belal Muhammad: There wasn’t anything flashy about Muhammad’s victory over Chance Rencountre, but there also wasn’t much to complain about either. Muhammad was in control from bell to bell, picking up his fourth win in a row after dropping two of his first three UFC contests. Keep in mind Muhammad completed this performance in the midst of Ramadan, meaning he’s been fasting during the day.
Desmond Green: Though it still felt like there were some things missing from Green’s performance – such as a finish – it was the most complete performance of his UFC career. In the process, he snapped a two-fight losing streak. Picking up the win not too far from your hometown – Green is from Rochester – only makes things that much sweeter.
Nathaniel Wood: Perhaps Wood’s appearance in this column should come with a caveat as he took a HELL of a beating from Johnny Eduardo prior to the fight going to the ground in the second round. I’d say Wood benefitted from Eduardo gassing more than anything, but you take a win however you can and Wood showed incredible toughness to do so. Hats off to the Brit.
Losers
Jimmie Rivera: Just like that, a 20-fight win streak disappears. The only loss I can think of that compares to this loss was when Conor McGregor shocked the world by dethroning Jose Aldo in 13 seconds. Admittedly, the stakes weren’t as high for Rivera, but that doesn’t mean Rivera isn’t just as heartbroken. His win streak dated all the way back to 2008. It’s safe to say he’ll never match that again. Plus, Rivera is going to have a hard time working his way into title talks given he isn’t the flashiest fighter. Things could not have turned out worse for Rivera.
Daniel Spitz: The big man is only on here due to the violent nature of his loss. He was expected to lose the uber-athletic Harris in the first place. The brutality wasn’t expected. Spitz wasn’t even allowed to stay in the cage for the result to be announced as the cut on his head was bleeding so badly. I suppose it’s a good thing that chicks dig scars as Spitz is going to have a nasty one.
Jake Ellenberger: 2-8. That’s Ellenberger’s record in his last 10 fights. There is no possible way to spin that into a positive light. Ellenberger was looking good before Saunders stopped him with a knee to the liver, but how much longer can the UFC justify keeping him on the roster? What hurts the most was this was probably the most winnable contest that Ellenberger dropped in that stretch. What are the odds he ends up in Bellator or the PFL?
Daniel Teymur: Teymur was hardly one of the biggest losers of the night, but he was one of the few who was unable to make it the distance. The younger Teymur on this list wore down from Arce’s constant pressure and was too wild for his own good in the opening frame. He’s young, so it’s a problem that could be remedied. However, it doesn’t mean it will be.
Gian Villante: I hate putting Villante here as he is consistently one of the most entertaining 205ers on the roster, but he’s dropped three of his last four now. The lone victory was over a since-released Francimar Barroso. Nobody is asking him to fulfill the potential his physical talents would suggest he has. We’re just asking for him to do better than what he has done in recent contests. I hate to say it, but even that appears to be too much to ask of the lovable lug.
Lauren Murphy: Murphy was unable to build on the spirited performance that she had in her flyweight debut. I don’t know what it was, but she looked flat, unwilling to let her fists fly. Plus, there seems to be an epidemic of fighters proving content to fight off their back rather than looking to get back to their feet. Last week, it was Jason Knight. This week, it was Murphy. I’m not saying Murphy’s guard was bad, but what the hell? The guard is supposed to be a final alternative.
Gleison Tibau: There’s a strong chance Tibau is at the end of the line after his fourth consecutive loss. He’s never been a very exciting fighter and has more mileage on his body than your typical 34-year old fighter. It would be an unceremonial end to his UFC career given he once held the record for most fights in the Octagon, but the fight game rarely has happy endings.
Johnny Eduardo: It isn’t like Eduardo doesn’t hit hard. He did break Eddie Wineland’s jaw a few years ago with a single punch. But when he couldn’t put away Wood after throwing everything – including the kitchen sink – at the youngster, it might be an indication for the longtime veteran to call it a career. Eduardo is 38-years old at this point with his pro debut coming in 1996. There are many fighters on the roster who can’t remember that far back.
Jarred Brooks: It needs to be noted that Brooks looked better than ever prior to knocking himself out. In case you didn’t see the fight, I assure you that you read that sentence correctly. Brooks KO’d himself with a slam. That’s something only Gray Maynard and Matt Lindland had previously accomplished in the annals of the UFC’s history. Hard to take much positive out of that… unless you take note that both Maynard and Lindland fought for the title at some point in their careers. I guess it happens to the best of us at times….
Jessica Aguilar and Jodie Esquibel: What the hell is the NYSAC trying to prove? They ask for additional clearance from Aguilar’s doctor. Aguilar’s doctor provides it… and the NYSAC still decides to pull Aguilar from her fight with Esquibel. Did they forget fighting is how Aguilar and Esquibel make their living? I’m sure the UFC will re-book these two as fast as possible, but that doesn’t mean there is a strong chance the two of them will feel a financial crunch. Here’s hoping they don’t as they are stuck in this column through no fault of their own.
NYSAC: Need I say more about the New York State Athletic Commission? Hell, I can probably etch their names permanently into this section… even on cards they have nothing to do with. We just know they’re going to do something imminently stupid.
Neither
Gregor Gillespie: I’m sure many are surprised to see Gillespie here. I get it. Let me explain. I’ll be the first to admit that Gillespie is a stud. He dominated Vinc Pichel from pillar to post with his All-American wrestling before finally getting the triangle choke. If Gillespie wants to, he could be a title contender. Hell, it’s plausible he’s good enough that he’s already there. The problem is that he doesn’t seem to care whether that actually happens. I get that fighting is merely a paycheck for many of these fighters and I respect that. It doesn’t mean it isn’t frustrating when someone with the immense talents Gillespie possesses can’t be bothered to do the appropriate things to advance his career. His refusal to call out an opponent appears to have doomed him to facing underwhelming opponent after underwhelming opponent as those ahead of him have no reason to accept a fight with him. It isn’t like Gillespie is going to call them out.
David Teymur: His win over Nik Lentz was impressive for the most part, but a brief stretch in the first round that involved the raking of Lentz’s eyes and blatant fence grabs add a bit of a stain on the final result. He likely didn’t even need the infractions to win the fight if the final two rounds had remained the same. Teymur hadn’t given us anything to dislike about him before this fight. Now he has, overshadowing
Jose Torres: I can’t remember the last time there was so much hype behind a debuting flyweight than there was behind Torres. Sure, he walked out of New York with a victory, but it was handed to him when Brooks landed an ill-advised slam to knock himself silly. Credit to Torres for having the wherewithal to immediately leap up and finish the job, but that wasn’t the debut the former two-title champion of Titan FC was hoping for.